Category: AEW

Paige VanZant Has Has Officially Signed With AEW

Even though one industry requires its competitors to legitimately hurt each other, and the other makes its money from staged fights and storylines, there’s a lot of crossover between MMA and pro wrestling. Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, and Marina Shafir are just a few of the people to have found success in both worlds. There tends to be a lot of buzz around anyone notable who leaves one sport for the other, and the latest star to generate that buzz is Paige VanZant.

The former UFC star has been showing up in AEW for months at this point, aligning herself with American Top Team. However, she isn’t actually signed to the company, at least she wasn’t until last night. Dan Lambert struck a deal with Tony Khan, promising VanZant would sign with AEW if he gave Scorpio Sky a TNT Title match on this week’s Dynamite.

That deal paid off in a major way for Lambert as Sky got his shot and made it count. The former SCU member beat Sammy Guevara and the TNT Title is now under American Top Team’s banner. Sky had a pretty big helping hand from VanZant, though. The new signing, who wasn’t technically under contract at this particular moment in time, jumped the barricade and threw Tay Conti into the steel steps.

Conti is Guevara’s other half and had accompanied the now-former TNT Champion to the ring for the match. Watching VanZant attack Conti at ringside was enough to distract Guevara for so long that Sky pounced on his opponent and covered him for the win. Right after, VanZant took the opportunity to sign her deal then and there, adding insult to injury by putting pen to paper on Conti’s back.

All signs point to Conti being VanZant’s first opponent as an AEW star. Perhaps a mixed tag match involving those two, Sky, and Guevara is also in the offing. What remains unclear is what this means for VanZant’s MMA career. While she could, of course, continue to compete in both worlds, VanZant is currently 0-2 since signing with BKFC so may want to focus on wrestling moving forward.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1501755834547818501

Source: TheSportster

Jeff Hardy Makes AEW Debut On Dynamite, Reunites With Matt Hardy

This week’s edition of AEW Dynamite played host to a Hardy Boyz reunion when Jeff Hardy made his ALL ELITE debut and came to the aid of his brother.

Jeff Hardy is ALL ELITE! The rumors and reports were proven accurate when the former WWE Champion made his AEW debut during this week’s edition of Dynamite on TBS.

It all went down at the Hertz Arena in Fort Myers, Florida on Wednesday, March 9 when the power struggle between Andrade El Idolo and Matt Hardy finally came to a head after the Andrada-Hardy Family Office emergency board meeting ended in violence. Andrade conducted a hostile takeover after convincing The Butcher, The Blade, Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen to vote Hardy out of the group. After the vote, the five men ambushed Hardy and continued to beat him down until Sting and Darby Allin arrived to help Hardy out.

The numbers were still in the Andrade Family Office’s favor, and they had the upper hand in the ensuing braw … until a familiar face arrived. The classic Hardy Boyz theme and out around the arena as Jeff Hardy sprinted down to the ring to assist his brother and his fellow face pain aficionados.”

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1501741558739226625

Jeff emptied the ring and hit a Swanton on The Blade. The Hardy Boyz embraced then stared down Sting and Darby, bringing an end to a touching debut segment for the “Charismatic Enigma.”

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1501742099397492740

Jeff Hardy was released by WWE on December 9 following an incident at a WWE live event at which he allegedly performed while inebriated. Hardy was reportedly sent home from the house show, which led to much speculation among fans regarding his well-being.

Source: TheSportster

AEW Dynamite Preview 3/9/22

The post-Revolution edition of AEW Dynamite on TBS will air live tonight from the Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida with fallout from last Sunday’s pay-per-view.

* Fallout from Revolution

* Leyla Hirsch vs. Thunder Rosa to determine a new #1 contender to AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker

* Chris Jericho will address Eddie Kingston

* TNT Champion Sammy Guevara defends against Scorpio Sky

* Jeff Hardy officially became a free agent today as his non-compete clause with WWE has expired.  His first TV appearance for AEW possibly coming as early as tonight’s episode of Dynamite. Jeff is reportedly scheduled to be at the Hertz Arena in Fort Myers, FL tonight, the site of Dynamite.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1501544833344684033

Jeff Hardy Is Officially A Free Agent

Jeff Hardy officially became a free agent today as his non-compete clause with WWE has expired.

There have been rumors and speculation regarding Jeff joining his brother Matt Hardy in AEW, with his first TV appearance for AEW possibly coming as early as tonight’s episode of Dynamite. Jeff is reportedly scheduled to be at the Hertz Arena in Fort Myers, FL tonight, the site of Dynamite, but it was still being determined if he would actually appear on the show.

“Nothing’s official yet,” Jeff Hardy told the La Crosse Tribune last week. “I’m still legally under a contract with WWE until next Wednesday.”

“Strange thing about that is you know what happens on Wednesday,” He added.

Jeff and his brother Matt Hardy are set to reunite for another run as a tag team that begins Saturday at a Big Time Wrestling event in Webster, MA. The Hardy Boys will face the winners of a tag team match between The SAT and The Briscoes earlier in the night.

WWE released Jeff Hardy in December after he turned down an offer from the company to go to rehab. This came after an incident at the December 4 WWE live event in Edinburg, TX, where Hardy tagged out of a six-man tag team main event and disappeared through the crowd with security following him. He was pulled from the road after that incident and then released. Test results later confirmed that Hardy was not intoxicated or under the influence of drugs during the incident at the live event.

Matt Hardy was on the losing end of a six-man Tornado Tag Team Match at AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view on Sunday, taking the pin from Darby Allin.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Backstage Update On Cody Rhodes’ Contract Talks With WWE

WWE has reportedly been pushing to sign former AEW wrestler and EVP Cody Rhodes. Here is the latest.

The wrestling world continues to await the announcement of Cody Rhodes’ next professional wrestling chapter, but nothing appears to be imminent.

Last month, Cody and Brandi Rhodes parted ways with AEW after failing to reach agreements on new deals. Cody was an Executive Vice President in AEW, and Brandi worked as the company’s Chief Brand Officer. Both were instrumental in building up AEW as a major promotion, so their departures were massively unexpected

Many assumed that Cody would quickly strike a deal with WWE and return to the place where his pro wrestling career started. But fast forward three weeks after his AEW departure, and The American Nightmare remains a free agent.

In an update on the F4WOnline.com message board (h/t WrestlingNews.co), Dave Meltzer wrote that contract talks between Cody and AEW “hit a snag.” Meltzer reported that the 36-year-old wrestler “has multiple offers”, and that WWE would like him to make his decision “soon.”

Meltzer added that the “ball is in” Cody’s court. It should be noted that Cody isn’t under a non-compete clause of any kind, so he’s free to sign with another promotion whenever. WWE has done their part in trying to bring Rhodes aboard, and now the second-generation wrestler has to decide if he wants to sign on for a second tenure with the company.

It was previously reported that Cody was on WWE’s WrestleMania 38 internal documents, but that apparently is no longer the case. If WWE wants Cody to return before or at WrestleMania weekend on Apr. 2-3, the clock is ticking on that front.

WWE has had three weeks now to reach a deal with Cody Rhodes. Vince McMahon certainly isn’t one to go back-and-forth over a lengthy period with a specific wrestler when it comes to contract talks. WWE has made it clear how much they’d like Cody to come aboard. It’s now a simple waiting game as they await his decision.

Source: TheSportster

AEW Revolution Results 3/6/2022, Swerve Strickland And William Regal Signed With AEW

BUY IN:

Leyla Hirsch def. Kris Statlander

Hook def. QT Marshall

House Of Black def. Penta Oscuro, PAC, & Erick Redbeard 

MAIN CARD:

Eddie Kingston def. Chris Jericho

 Eddie strolls over to Chris and tells him he respects him, as he puts out the hand, which Jericho agreed to shake if he lost. Jericho doesn’t shake it though, and instead, he lives the ring to a chorus of boos.

TRIPLE THREAT FOR THE AEW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES
Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus (c) def. The Young Bucks vs. reDRagon (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish)

FACE OF THE REVOLUTION LADDER MATCH
Wardlow def. Keith Lee vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Ricky Starks vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Christian
Winner earns a future title shot from AEW TNT Champion Sammy Guevara.

– Tony Schiavone is then shown on the stage to host a contract signing. He showcases the name on the paper several times before announcing who it is…Shane Strickland is All Elite! He signs the deal and says the real is back. He could go on about the dream matches, or the titles he is going to take. But he has a question for the fans…whose house?

TBS TITLE MATCH
Jade Cargill (c) def. Tay Conti

DOG COLLAR MATCH
CM Punk def. MJF

MJF then calls for Wardlow, who appears, but he forgets the ring. Punk then pulls him and he hits a GTS as MJF falls back to the thumbtacks.

Wardlow then remembers where the ring was, he pulls it out and leaves it in the ring…for CM Punk! MJF spits at CM Punk in a final act of defiance, but he smashes him in the face with the ring, and this one is over.

AEW WOMEN’S WORLD TITLE MATCH
Dr. Britt Baker (c) def. Thunder Rosa

Jon Moxley def. Bryan Danielson

– After the match the two men continue brawling…but William Regal is here!!! He gets a huge pop as Regal gets in the ring and separates them both. Regal then slaps Moxley in the face as Bryan applauds him. However, he eats a slap as well! He then brings the two men together and tells them to shake hands, which they do.

TORNADO TRIOS MATCH
TNT Champion Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin def. Andrade El Idolo, Isiah Kassidy & Matt Hardy

AEW WORLD TITLE MATCH
“Hangman” Adam Page (c) def. Adam Cole

– After the match, Hangman Page heads to a knocked out Cole, and shakes his hand to show respect.

AEW Revolution 3/6/2022

DATE: March 6, 2022 8:00 pm
LOCATION: Addition Finance Arena, Orlando, FL

CARD

AEW WORLD TITLE MATCH
Adam Cole vs. “Hangman” Adam Page (c)

AEW WOMEN’S WORLD TITLE MATCH
Thunder Rosa vs. Dr. Britt Baker (c)

TBS TITLE MATCH
Tay Conti vs. Jade Cargill (c)

TRIPLE THREAT FOR THE AEW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES
The Young Bucks vs. reDRagon (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) vs. Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus (c)

FACE OF THE REVOLUTION LADDER MATCH
Keith Lee vs. Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Ricky Starks vs. Orange Cassidy vs. TBD
Winner earns a future title shot from AEW TNT Champion Sammy Guevara.

DOG COLLAR MATCH
CM Punk vs. MJF

Chris Jericho vs. Eddie Kingston

Bryan Danielson vs. Jon Moxley

TORNADO TRIOS MATCH
Andrade El Idolo, Isiah Kassidy & Matt Hardy vs. TNT Champion Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin

BUY IN:

Kris Statlander vs. Leyla Hirsch

Hook vs. QT Marshall

AEW Rampage Preview 3/4/22

The Revolution go-home edition of AEW Rampage will air live tonight at 10pm ET on TNT from the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida.

* Keith Lee will be in action

* Serena Deeb hosts another edition of The Professor’s 5 Minute Rookie Challenge

* Ethan Page vs. Christian Cage in the final Face of The Revolution Ladder Match qualifier. The winner joins Keith Lee, Wardlow, Powerhouse Hobbs, FTW Champion Ricky Starks and Orange Cassidy

* AEW TNT Champion Sammy Guevara defends against Darby Allin and Andrade El Idolo in a Triple Threat

Talks Between Cody Rhodes & WWE Have Reportedly “Fizzled Out”

Cody and Brandi Rhodes parted ways with AEW two weeks ago. There was speculation that Cody would return to WWE, but it may not happen after all.

Wrestling fans wanting to see Cody Rhodes return to WWE better not get their hopes up too high.

Two weeks ago, Cody and Brandi Rhodes parted ways with AEW. Aside from wrestling, Cody served as an Executive Vice President in AEW, and Brandi was the company’s Chief Brand Officer. Multiple reports later suggested that Cody would eventually return to WWE, but that may not be the case after all.

According to a report from Cassidy Haynes of BodySlam.net, there were indeed contract discussions between The American Nightmare and WWE. However, Haynes was told that the “conversations have since fizzled out.”

Sources also informed Haynes that the departures of Cody and Brandi was “real life” and “not a work.” One source told Haynes that there is some “hope” about Cody potentially returning to AEW.

On this week’s episode of Dynamite, AEW President and CEO Tony Khan announced that he purchased Ring of Honor. Naturally, this has led to speculation that Cody could end up returning to AEW in some capacity. The 36-year-old wrestler worked in Ring of Honor following his departure from WWE in 2016, winning the ROH World Championship on one occasion.

AEW has signed a plethora of former WWE superstars since their inception in 2019. Having Vince McMahon bring Cody back following the latter’s AEW departure would have made for an interesting story, but that’s now up in the air.

It should be noted that Cody’s AEW departure did not include a non-compete clause of any kind, so he’s free to sign with another promotion at any time.

Even if talks between Cody and WWE haven’t led to a contract agreement, it doesn’t mean he won’t eventually return to the company. Cody may feel inclined to explore all of his options before committing to another promotion. He was often underused by WWE in his final years with the company, so it’s understandable if he’s hesitant about returning. For now, he remains one of the top free agents on the wrestling market, and Cody will be a valuable addition to the company that lands him.

Source: TheSportster

AEW Planning To Use ROH As Its Developmental Territory [Report]

Tony Khan now owns ROH, and this might be what he has planned for the brand.

Khan revealed last night on AEW Dynamite that he has bought Ring Of Honor. Rumors that Khan had acquired the struggling promotion had started to circulate earlier in the evening and turns out those rumors were true. As for what exactly Khan plans on doing with ROH, which is currently on hiatus, well, that remains unclear.

According to a report from Bodyslam.net’s Cassidy Haynes, the current plan is for ROH to be AEW’s developmental territory. The NXT to AEW’s WWE, if you will. There will even be appearances from AEW’s “main roster” talent from time to time, again as is the case with NXT. Right now Dolph Ziggler is embroiled in a rivalry with Bron Breakker which has resulted in wrestlers milling back and forth between Raw and NXT.

Exactly what Khan now owns, and how much he paid for it, is also unclear at this time. The deal almost definitely includes ROH’s tape library which could lead to AEW launching a streaming service of some sort that will combine its own three years of content with 20 years worth of ROH stuff. Haynes was also told the deal is worth somewhere between $30 million and $40 million, but that information has not yet been confirmed.

ROH admitted all was not well with the promotion last year when it went on hiatus, releasing all of its talent in the process. However, it followed through on its promise that it would eventually return, announcing a Supercard Of Honor show over WrestleMania weekend. Despite AEW’s reluctance to piggyback on WrestleMania like the rest of the wrestling industry does, you would have to think the company will have a heavy presence on that show which takes place in Dallas on April 1.

Source: TheSportster